AdViking believes that the opening of BOSS proves that Search needs to be an infrastructure/platform/service that is widely distributed to enable all the different potential applications that people cook up.

AdViking looks forward to seeing what the impact of this bold move will be and how Live Search and Google will respond.

The AdViking scouts are hearing from unofficial but reliable sources in the field of battle that both Miva and Vibrant Media have made staff layoffs in Europe during Q2 2008. This is regrettable for the employees who are getting their pink slips (or P45s) and we hope that all good people find rewarding and fulfilling employment quickly. Alas, AdViking is not hiring for our latest adventure. At least it is summer and a good time for a bar-b-q and some strong ales.

We do want to note that we believe these layoffs are a sign of the general slow down due to the economy and perhaps the natural advertising cycle. However, we do not believe that the online ad spend is going down overall, only that the spend pattern will migrate to the bigger and better quality sites (like portals) or ad networks and rich media channels (ie, video) – all while we watch online advertising out pace TV advertising in the UK. And is predicted in general to grow around 20% or a bit less depending on what report you read. Those players further down the food chain and/or offering poor products (and traffic) will suffer. We fear that many established players as well as start-ups in the ad space or with ad funded models will be forced to trim back and some will perish. This is a time when it is going to be safer at the head of the long tail of advertising.

On a related note we were reading the UK NMA this week which is touting a story titled “Portals drop ad rates to fill space” (note: paid content, best save your money) and we don’t buy it yet – the idea that spend is shifting away from portals or that their is price pressure. The article goes on to imply that display (banners, brand advertising – which matters!) are being impacted first and that as spend tightens it is shifting to ROI or direct response products. AdViking thinks this is a poor strategy by media buyers as it will only drive up the cost of media or clicks on the likes of AdWords and that then pushes ROI down. Down a rat hole of DR chasing Google’s tail… All media buyers please re-think this strategy, try to get that right mix of spend and help prove the NMA story wrong. Anyway, digital is the king of advertising now. Long live The King!